Actress Assault Case: Pulsar Suni and Five Others Get 20 Years’ Rigorous Imprisonment

Kochi: A Kerala court on Friday sentenced six persons convicted in the 2017 actress assault case to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. The sentence was delivered by Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M. Varghese, who also directed that the victim be paid compensation of five lakh rupees. The pen drive containing the assault visuals will remain in the custody of the investigation officer.

The convicted persons — Pulsar Suni (N.S. Sunil), Martin Antony, B. Manikandan, V.P. Vijesh, H. Salim (Vadival Salim), and Pradeep — were found guilty of gangrape and several other offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. Although the court imposed imprisonment for multiple offences, the judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

The convictions include charges under IPC Sections 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 342 (wrongful confinement), 354(B) (assault or criminal force with intent to disrobe), 354 (outraging a woman’s modesty), 357 (assault during attempted confinement), 366 (abduction), 376(D) (gangrape), and IT Act Sections 66E (violation of privacy) and 67A (transmitting sexually explicit material). The case is also significant as it marked the first instance in the country where a “quotation” — a contract to carry out a sexual offence — was officially registered.

The crime occurred on the night of February 17, 2017, when the actress was abducted near Athani, Angamaly, after her vehicle was intercepted. She was confined inside the moving car for nearly two hours, during which Pulsar Suni sexually assaulted her and recorded the visuals with assistance from the other accused. The incident had shocked Kerala and triggered widespread public outrage.

During the hearing on sentencing, the court listened to submissions from the prosecution, defence counsel, and the convicted individuals, some of whom pleaded for leniency citing family and health issues. The Special Public Prosecutor, Advocate V. Aja Kumar, argued that the gravity of the offence warranted the maximum punishment.

The court observed that the crime committed by Suni was more grievous than the offences of the other convicted persons but maintained that the punishment under Section 376(D) of the IPC would apply equally. The judge also cautioned lawyers and the media against criticising the judicial process in the wake of the verdict.

Meanwhile, the court acquitted four accused, including actor Dileep, stating that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges of conspiracy and destruction of evidence against him. The seventh accused Charlie Thomas, the ninth accused Sanil Kumar (Mesthiri Sanil), and the fifteenth accused G. Sharath, a friend of Dileep, were also acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

After a nearly six-year trial, the court concluded the hearing on sentencing by early afternoon and pronounced the order later in the day.